HOW TO BUY A CHILD’S FIRST SHOTGUN

I hope that you have not forgotten what it was like to be a 10-year-old kid on Christmas morning. Now add to that you are a kid in a hunting and shooting family. You have been wishing, hoping, and praying that you will see that new gun under the tree. Can you remember this? Think of Ralphie in A Christmas Story. A lot of our hunting traditions are going by the wayside; I hope that this one has not. I think it does a kid good to hope for the present he or she desires with all their little heart. Hopefully Mom and Dad are on the same wave length, and agree that they are ready for this firearm, and so that long, slender package will be there on Christmas morn. This now leaves Dad and/or Mom to make the right choice and buy our little guy or girl the right shotgun. Get ready for a lecture.

IF YOU GREW UP LIKE I DID, “back in the day,” most kids got whatever shotgun that was handy shoved in their hands, and were basically told to shoot it and don’t complain. Often the young
shooter was laughed at after some old blunderbuss knocked them for a loop after they pulled the trigger. Now let’s see, you give a kid a shotgun that doesn’t fit, it is too big and too heavy, the recoil of which could make a grown man cry. Do we see a problem here? Friends, bad shooting habits can follow us for a lifetime; sometimes it is not our fault. The kid who was forced to shoot Uncle Bill’s Model 97 will never forget that it kicked like the proverbial mule.

He developed a flinch that day, which may very well follow him to the grave. I recently attended Remington’s new products seminar near Fayetteville, W.V. I felt privileged to be there, as the list of people attending consisted of most of the heavy hitters in the outdoor media and shooting industry world. But I will tell you this: on the shotgun range (where Remington was unveiling a brand-new shotgun for 2015), I saw people who I think of as better shotgun shooters than me reveal some bad flinches. You’ve seen it; while using a gun that you are unfamiliar with, you call “pull,” and the bird goes up but the safety is on. You yank the trigger; the barrel akes a big dip downward. Now where might that flinch have come from?

I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE about working with young people at various shooting functions: National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes Days, Youth Day at the Range and the like. Watch the kid who picks up an ill-fitting shotgun that s too big and heavy for him/her. Most will lean back and heave the gun to their shoulder, usually snagging the stock under their arm because it is too long or them. A gun that fits them allows the young shooter to stand straight and push the gun towards the target as they shoulder it, like we are supposed to do.

Think about this: It is important to get a shotgun that fits your son or daughter now, not one that they “will grow into.” While you are waiting for them to grow into this gun, how many bad days in the field will they have and how many bad habits will they acquire because of a shotgun that is too big and heavy for them?

I want you to consider the pump shotgun for a child’s first gun rather than the auto loader. Now, I do not think there is anything wrong with the auto loader, but pump guns are generally lighter than autos and are easy for small hands to operate. They are safer to operate when it comes to loading more than one shell, and they are usually less expensive. So I am going to offer you a couple of choices that you can consider for the young shooter’s first shotgun.

The first is Remington’s Model 870 Compact Jr. Most youth model shotguns feature a 13-inch length of pull. The 870 Compact Jr. has a 12-inch length of pull, to better fit the smaller shooter, and this feature is adjustable so it can be increased as the shooter grows. All this and the reliability of the Remington 870: can over 10 million, 870 owners be wrong?

Next is the Mossberg 500 Bantam All Purpose. This gun starts with a 13-inch length of pull, however, the Super Bantam model gives you a 12- to 13-inch adjustable stock, and multiple barrel lengths are available. Other options include 12, 20 and .410 bore. I would go for the 20 gauge; don’t start them with a .410. I realize that it may have been your first shotgun, as was mine. Don’t forget lightly loaded shells for the starting shotgunner are just as
important as a gun that fits properly. Let them practice and shoot on paper with target loads; if you are going to turkey hunt, save the heavy stuff for the woods. Remington offers their Managed Recoil STS Target Loads; shell out another dollar or two for a box
of shells that the kid can enjoy shooting. Get that kid a shotgun for Christmas! Not just any shotgun, but one that fits them. Both of you will be glad you did. WSJ

Like this:

This new gun is about to hit the market. Once it is available, I am anxious to give it a try. If you have not heard about it, or get a chance to try it, please feel free to make a comment and let us know what you thinks. Here is the link to the website: http://www.thegunyouwear.com/

Vary rarely do I say negative things about firearms. But, I am making an exception this time. After handling the new Beretta Pico at Federal Way Discount Guns recently, I can honestly say I am not interested in shooting one. The reason, I was unable to manipulate the gun without great difficulty, to include releasing the magazine and locking the slide, and releasing the slide with the slide catch lever. Anyone that knows me knows that I suffer from arthritis in both hands. But, despite this, I am able to operate most .380, 9mm, and 45acp caliber handguns without hesitation. This was not the case with the Pico. After all the press on this gun, and the delay in release, I am very disappointed in the end product. (And I won’t even go into the trigger press.) But, don’t take my word for it, go find one and see for yourself. I would love to hear some other opinions on this gun.

Stick with the Glock 42, Sig P238, or even the Ruger LCP (or LC9s), if you need a small carry gun.

Starting on November 16, 2014, we will be hosting a practice time especially for women. If you have attended any of our classes, or have friends that are interested in shooting, please come by and join us. Location: Federal Way Indoor Range, 1401 S. 324th St., Federal Way, WA 98003. Range fees are half price for the day and handgun rentals are free all day for women. We plan to meet every Sunday between 12noon and until approximately 4:00pm. Head Instructor Janice Talaroc and her daughter Chelsea Kyger will plan to be available to meet new shooters and provide tips to students. There is no extra charge for this event. We just want to encourage women to come to the range and practice! So, if you have some time, stop by anytime between 12-4, and enjoy some practice with other women sharing similar interests.

As a fan of single stack 1911s I am pleased to report that RIA have added four single stack variants to their line of .22 TCM 1911 pistols.

For those of you unfamiliar with the .22 TCM, the cartridge is a based on a .223 Remington case cut down to around the same length as a 9mm Luger case, then necked down to .22 caliber. Ballistically its about 10% less powerful at the muzzle than a 5.7×28 FN round and is loaded with heavier 40 grain bullet.

All .22 TCM chambered pistols from RIA include a 9mm conversion kit. The magazines themselves can be used with both 9mm and .22 TCM. These new single stack pistols have a MSRP of $830.

The press release is below …

October 28th (Las Vegas, NV) – Leading 1911 pistol manufacturer, Rock Island Armory began US distribution this October of four new additions to their .22 TCM 1911 family.

First debuted at SHOT Show 2014, each of these firearms retail for less than $830 and ship with a 9mm conversion kit along with one magazine that accommodates .22 TCM and 9mm rounds.

“We’re very excited to offer the latest generation of .22 TCM pistols to the American public”, said Martin Tuason, President and CEO of Armscor / Rock Island Armory. “It’s been our goal all along to give shooters the ability to discover the advantages of this new cartridge and we’re confident shooting enthusiasts will recognize the value behind the conversion kits.”

This latest move follows Armscor’s recent ramp up of US based .22 TCM ammo production to accommodate for consumer demand.
Rock Island Armory will begin shipping 500 total units of the new series every month to major US distributors including Big Rock Sports, Ellett Brothers, Davidson’s, RSR Group, Zanders Sporting Goods, Williams Shooters Supply, Cheaper Than Dirt and others to make available to shooting enthusiasts.

About the TCM series

The TCM series was inspired by the need for more firepower in lower caliber firearms and ammo. The series was designed and developed by Armscor / Rock Island Armory executives – President, Martin Tuason and Master Firearm Engineer Fred Craig. TCM stands for Tuason-Craig-Magnum.

The .22 TCM round has been called the “Flame Thrower” by one prominent reviewer and has been embraced by hunters, self-defense and shooting enthusiasts.
The overwhelming demand for the bullet’s industry-leading high velocity and stopping power has prompted the company to expand its US production facilities.

Register for our Women and Guns Course, or our Basic Handgun Fundamentals Course between November 1 and December 31 and pay only $175. (Registration must be received after November 1 and before December 31, 2014 – class dates may vary.)

(That is a savings of $50).

AND, receive one 30 DAY FREE UNLIMITED RANGE PASS at the completion of the class.

Save $15 per visit, come as many times as you like during the 30 day period – you do the math. BIG $$AVING$$

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